Director of Programs & Experiences

Director of Programs & Experiences

This Is a Senior Leadership Role in Cultural Strategy, Institutional Impact, and Program Excellence - not event coordination.

If you are a program strategist, cultural curator, community builder, and leader who can translate vision into high-impact experiences, read on.

We are seeking a strategic, creative, and community-driven leader who understands how to design, curate, and execute programming that builds audience, strengthens community, and advances institutional mission.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for institutional reputation, external partnerships, and the strategic direction of one of the Library’s most visible and influential functions.

The Program Director is responsible for elevating program quality, consistency, and impact across the organization. The Library has built a strong foundation of programming and community engagement; the next phase requires a leader who can bring discipline, clarity, and a consistently high standard to that work.

This role requires comfort operating at a high level with talent, budgets, and institutional stakeholders.

This role exists to lead.

If you are primarily an event planner, logistics manager, or someone who executes programs developed by others, this is not the role.

If you are a program strategist, a cultural curator, a community builder, and a leader who can translate vision into high-impact experiences, read on.

About The Westport Library

The Westport Library is Connecticut’s only Five-Star Library and one of the top public libraries in the nation.

We serve nearly half a million visitors annually and operate as a major cultural and civic institution in the region.

The Library is home to:

• A 650-seat performance venue with state-of-the-art sound, theatrical lighting, and a large-scale video wall
• Verso Studios, a professional media production and content creation platform
• VersoFest, a nationally recognized music and media festival
• A dynamic civic dialogue platform (Common Ground Initiative)
• Major literary, cultural, and community programming
• Lifelong learning initiatives, including Verso University

We are not a quiet, transactional library. We are a cultural destination, a civic platform, and a community builder with national ambition.

The Role

This is a rare opportunity to lead and shape the programming strategy of a nationally recognized cultural institution.

The Director of Programs & Experiences is a senior leadership position responsible for defining and executing a cohesive, high-impact programming portfolio that advances the Library’s mission, strengthens its reputation, and deepens community engagement.

This role operates at the intersection of programming, institutional strategy, audience development, and external engagement—and requires both creative vision and operational discipline.

This role has primary responsibility for programming direction and prioritization, including decisions about what programs move forward, how resources are allocated, and how success is defined and measured.

This position will:

• Elevate programming from a collection of events to a cohesive, strategic portfolio
• Prioritize high-impact experiences over volume
• Build intentional audience engagement across diverse communities
• Strengthen alignment between programming, marketing, development, and institutional goals
• Establish discipline, accountability, and execution across the department

This is both a creative and operational leadership role.

Position Overview

The Director of Programs & Experiences is a senior leadership position responsible for:

• Lead high-level relationships with authors, artists, agents, and cultural leaders
• Oversee program budgets and align programming ambition with financial strategy
• Represent the Library in high-visibility interactions with donors, board members, and institutional partners
• Developing and executing a comprehensive programming strategy aligned with the Library’s Strategic Plan
• Elevate programming from a collection of events to a cohesive, strategic portfolio
• Prioritize high-impact experiences over volume
• Build intentional audience engagement across diverse communities
• Strengthen alignment between programming, marketing, development, and institutional goals
• Establish discipline, accountability, and execution across the department

This is not simply a programming role—it is a leadership role responsible for shaping institutional voice, relevance, and impact through programming.

This role supervises program staff and is a member of the senior leadership team.

What Success Looks Like (First 18–24 Months)

The successful candidate will:

• Develop a clear, strategic programming framework tied directly to institutional goals
• Establish and enforce a clear quality standard for programming, ensuring consistency, relevance, and audience alignment
• Define and implement tiers of programming, including high-impact, marquee experiences
• Improve the quality, consistency, and execution of programs across the organization
• Increase attendance, engagement, and audience diversity through intentional programming
• Strengthen collaboration with Marketing to ensure programs are supported by effective campaigns
• Build stronger relationships with partners, talent, and community organizations
• Establish systems for planning, tracking, and delivering programs with discipline
• Present clear program strategy and outcomes to Administration and Board
• Demonstrate strong financial stewardship and alignment between programming and budget

Core Responsibilities

1. Talent Leadership, External Relationships, and Institutional Representation

• Lead and manage relationships with authors, artists, agents, and high-profile talent
• Serve as a primary external representative of the Library in cultural and civic spaces
• Engage donors, board members, and partners through programming strategy and execution
• Position the Library as a leading venue for ideas, arts, and civic dialogue

2. Strategic Programming Leadership and Portfolio Direction

• Responsible for program performance outcomes (attendance, engagement, impact) in alignment with strategic plan
• Define priorities across major initiatives including:
  • VersoFest
  • Common Ground Initiative
  • Verso University
  • Literary and cultural series
• Apply a clear decision standard: strong audience alignment, high relevance, and meaningful engagement
• Ensure programming reflects diverse perspectives and community needs

3. Budget Oversight and Resource Alignment

• Own program budget strategy, including planning, allocation, and performance tracking
• Align programming decisions with financial resources and institutional priorities
• Ensure contracts, financial commitments, and program investments are disciplined and strategic

4. Creative Direction and Curation

• Lead the development of compelling, relevant, and innovative programming
• Identify talent, themes, and opportunities aligned with institutional goals
• Balance cultural, educational, and community-focused programming

5. Cross-Departmental Leadership

• Partner closely with:
  • Marketing (campaign strategy and audience development)

• • Development (donor engagement and sponsorship opportunities)
  • Operations (execution and logistics)

6. Community Engagement and Partnership Development

• Build and maintain relationships with:
  • Authors, artists, and thought leaders
  • Publishers and agents
  • Community organizations and civic partners
• Develop programming that strengthens community connection and participation

7. Execution, Systems, and Accountability

• Establish clear systems for program planning and execution
• Ensure all programs have:
  • Defined ownership
  • Clear timelines
  • Budget awareness
  • Operational readiness
• Implement tools and processes that create visibility and accountability
• Hold staff accountable for execution and follow-through

8. Team Leadership and Culture

• Lead, manage, and develop program staff
• Set clear expectations and enforce accountability
• Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Address performance issues directly and consistently

9. Use of Space and Production Assets

• Maximize use of performance and event spaces
• Collaborate with Verso Studios to integrate production into programming
• Ensure high production quality across experiences

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in program leadership, cultural programming, or related fields
• Demonstrated success developing and executing high-impact programs and program portfolios that drive audience engagement and institutional impact
• Experience leading and developing teams, including direct staff management and ensuring performance accountability.
• Strong strategic thinking, prioritization, and organizational skills
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously while maintaining quality and execution standards
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to operate effectively in a high-visibility, fast-paced, and publicly engaged environment
• Experience working with high caliber talent and stakeholders including Board and donors
• Demonstrated experience negotiating contracts with talent
• Experience managing program budgets with clear accountability for financial performance and resource allocation

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Creative Leadership
• Community Engagement
• Program Curation
• Organizational Discipline
• Accountability & Execution
• Collaboration and Influence
• Strong Communication and Collaboration skill

Work Environment

The Director of Programs & Experiences must be:

• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, highly visible public institution
• Confident engaging with senior leadership, partners, and board members
• Able to make prioritization decisions and manage competing demands
• Comfortable making difficult decisions, setting standards, and being accountable for outcomes
• Motivated by impact, quality, and continuous improvement

>Application Process

Please submit:

• Resume
• Cover letter describing a program or initiative you led that had measurable impact
• Optional portfolio or examples of work

Email: [email protected]
Subject Line: Director of Programs Application